There’s a lot to do and think about in the next coming days. I just came back from Whiteshell this weekend. Had a wonderful time at Muslim Youth Camp. I used to be super involved in it previous years but this year I just showed up for the weekend, helped with the program logistics prior to camp and did a short talk for the girls. I think the girls found my talk more entertaining than anything else. I also did some hiking, canoeing, kayaking (first time) and swam (waters were beyond beyond freezing however). I think Tipu is going up for a night or two of the boys’ camp. I hope he enjoys it. Camp’s a real big deal to me. Jann and I were asking ourselves if someday we would complete the camp circle… ie. go from campers, to organizers to auntie-cook mode. I think for sure if I have the opportunity. I think it would be hard cooking things plain enough for the kids so that there were no comments like “ew, i don’t like olives”. Perhaps I could take care of desserts.
So Ramadhan is coming up, somewhere around September 13th. It shall be interesting considering I’ll be in Edmonton September 14-18th inshallah. I won’t have to fast during that time because I’ll be traveling but I think I will anyways. I hate making up fasts. It’s so difficult when no one else is fasting with you at home. I still have to make up some fasts from last year… *sigh*. Every year I tell myself don’t leave it to the last minute, don’t leave it… and every year it’s a desperate crunch to fit it in. Some fools just take time to learn I guess. Last Ramadhan I went totally crazy and had guests every weekend at my place, sometimes multiple times like Friday and Sunday. Although it was a valuable learning experience I would rather not do that again. However there are so many blessings in feeding fasters… need to find a good balance. Last year there was no balance. So I’m thinking of things that I could prepare, cook and freeze now to make my life easier. I find fasting very difficult. I run very low on energy at the end of the day. When food finally hits my stomach I completely zonk out and find it very difficult to wake up to pray the night prayers and then zonk out again. It’s not the most productive month for me but I don’t mind… *need the points*.
Anyways, I’m thinking of freezing some good meat sauce… perhaps even lasagna. I could freeze patty filling as well. My mother-in-law taught me how to make these amazing fried crepe roll thingies that I would like to enjoy at one point. I think I’ll just bring that to someone else’s iftar as a contribution however. I wouldn’t want to do that in addition to everything else for an iftar at my place. I want to have lot of fruit smoothie like drinks this year to break fast (non-banana related of course) so I should probably start field testing that. I want to limit the fried stuff (piyaju, beygonee) this year to only weekends. That stuff is super yummy but hurts my stomach after a while. Hmmm… what else? I should make banana bread. I don’t know. Please leave constructive comments on what you or your families do to prepare for Ramadhan.
Hmmm, well I don’t prepare for Ramadhan, but I do have a yummy smoothie recipe. Since blueberries are in season, I stock up on them and freeze them. Then, just throw a bunch in a blender with some plain yogurt and honey…yum! If you feel like a protein kick, blend in some tofu along with the rest. You could do the same with frozen strawberries, mango etc. I would suggest some delicious, freezable soups to make for breaking fast, but I know how much you hate soup. *eye roll*
glad camp was awesome!!! Heard the turn out wasn’t that bad too.
Yeah Ramadhan has come around soo quickly again!!! Yaay, I’ll have to get back to you for suggestions though since I’m running out the door…
P.S. You can also freeze pizza
K talk to ya later
christy: actually i’m starting to like soups again… not coffee or tea though. i especially like foreign soups though, hot and sour soups are filling me well these days.
lubna: i freeze pizza dough, but i dont think i’d freeze an entire pizza.
so once the dough is frozen and you want to use it do you just like it defrost on the counter?? How long does it take? Cause I was always so scared of freezing the dough
yeah, on the counter or in the fridge depending on how fast you need it.
i use this recipe: http://www.foodtv.ca/recipes/recipedetails.aspx?dishid=6168
ignore the toppings if you wish, but the dough is good enough for 3 pizzas. so i usually make one pizza and freeze the rest of the dough.
thanks, yea I make my dough too but use it right away, i will try thsee recipe that u added here. But how do you wrap it, and how long does it last in the freezer?
oooh it has yogurt in it…basically i do all the rest but no yogurt, interesting
yogourt is a part of the dough… so why would you leave it out?
no no i understand, i mean with my own recipe that i make my dough with, i use everything but yogurt, but Im saying when i try this recipe, of course I’ll do it how it says.
so how do i freeze it? packing it how?
just a zip lock bag or a plastic container
um nusraat, can u just come over and cook for me and we ll pretend and tell kash that i made it. hehehehe
dont you have your mom for that?